Table.



D. GHOQUBTTE.

TABLE. l

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, 1914V E ym Damned De@ 29, 1914.

` 2 SHEBTSSHEET1.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DOSITH CEOQUETTE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

TABLE.

Application med March 13, 1814.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, Dosrrm CHoQUn'i'rn, a citizen of the United States. residing at lVorcester, in the county of Worcester and 5 State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Table, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a table and particularly to that class of tables which may at times be adapted and utilized to serve other useful urposes.

1t is the principal object of my invention to improve the design andconstruction of such a table, thereby increasing the range of its adaptability and also increasing its utility in each of its several forms.

More specifically, it is one object of my invention to provide a table which presents a pleasing elliptical outline when extended and which may be folded to occupy a relatively small space, while at the same time constituting a cabinet of substantial eapacity in which dishes or other articles may be retained and protected.

A further object of my invention is' to provide improved means for supporting the curved ends of such a table when they are in operable position and also to support them in raised position when the table is in use as a cabinet.

Vith these and other objects in view my invention comprises certain devices, arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my imroved table when in use as a cabinet; Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 ut showing one side of the cabinet open in which position it may be used as a desk; Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the device arranged for use as a table; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4 4 in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a view of the under side of the table and showing one of the supporting members in operative position; Fig. 6 is a detail view in elevation taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a similar detail view taken alon the line 7-7 in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 0 and showing the parts in a different position, and yFig. 9 shows a detail of construction, to be 5 described.

The table embodying my invention com- Specincatlon of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

Serial No. 824,537.

prises a rectangular central portion 10 (Fig. 3) mounted on end supports or legs 1l. A cross brace 12 is secured between the supports 11 and rendcis the entire structure rigid. Two end pieces 13 are hinged to the ends of the central portion 10 and two side pieces 14 are similarly secured to the sides of the portion 10.

Referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that a molded strip 15 is secured to the lower side of each side piece 14. lVhen the side pieces 14 are in position to form a portion of the table top, as shown at the left in Fig. l, the molded strip 15 extends under the central portion and assists in supporting the side piece in the plane of the central portion.

A curved panel 1G is hinged to cach molded strip 15 and iests upon two studs 17 fixed on the inner faces of the legs 11 when the device is to be used as a table. By this means the panels 16 are retained in retracted position.

The end pieces 13 are supported in raised position normal to the plane of the table by a plurality of blocks 18 which rest upon the top edges of the legs 11 and afford a firm support for the end pieces 13. The curved panels lf3 are so formed that when supported in raised position, as shown at the right in Fig. 4, their sectional outline conforms substantially to the outline of the end pieces 13. r1`hey are also of such design that when so supported their free edges meet above the longitudinal center line of the table, the panels thus completely inclosing the space between the raised cndslB.

In order to retain the panels in their raised position a locking member 19 is hinged to cach molded strip 15, said member having a perforation therethrough adapted to cooperate with a stud 2O in the lower face of the central portion of the table. When the stud is passed through the perfoiation the locking member is held against movement in either direction and the side piece 14 is firmly supported in the raised position shown in Fig. s1. The inner face of the curved panel 1G then rests against the lower face of the side piece 1-1 anclis thereby held in position to conform to the outline of the end piece 1B. A block .21 may, if desired, be secured to the lockingr member 19 and is adapted to rest against the edge of the central portion and thus partially relieve the pressure upon the stud 20.

The supports for the end pieces 13 are of supported thereon.

special construction and will now be described. Each support consists of three blocks 18 hinged together at their ends as shown in Fig. 5. rI`he middle block is rigidly secured to a sliding frame comprising two side members 22 and two cross pieces-23 and 24. An additional cross piece con stitutes the outer end of the sliding frame and also serves as a handle by which the support may be manipulated. The lower edge of each side member 22 constitutes a cam surface as shown at in Fig. 8 and the cross piece is provided with extensions 23 at each end which cooperate with cam grooves "ZG in the inner faces of a pair of longitudinally extending strips 27 which are secured to the under side of the central portion of the table. The cam surfaces 22a and the cam grooves 26 are of such outline that the supporting blocks 1S are gradually lowered as they are moved to extended position. The blocks 1S are thus permitted to 'rest upon the upper edges of the legs 11 when in closed position (thus cooperating with the lower edge of the piece 13 to support it normal to the table) while at the same time they are gradually lowered as they are drawn out and theinjupper surfaces extend in the plane of the bottom side of the table when they reach the fully extended o'perative position shown in Fig. 8 and at the left in Fig. 5. Shoulders 22 on the side members form stops to determine the extended position of the supports. The blocks 18 when in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 extend in a straight line but it is obvious that this relation would be impracticable when they are moved to extended position and support the rounded end pieces 13. Accordingly, I have provided means for automatically drawing in the end blocks 18 as the supports are moved to extended position so that they shall conform substantially to the outline of the end pieces For this purpose I secure a cross bar 28 by a pin and slot connection (Fig. 9) to the two end blocks 18. This cross bar rests upon the top of the side pieces 22 and has a depending projection 2S which slides between the side pieces. A recess is formed in the middle of the projection so that the projection may lit over a slotted bar 29 secured to the supporting frame and extending longitudinally thereof. A screw 30 passes through the cross bar 2S and the slotted bar 2f) into the projection 28a.

Pivotally secured to each end of the pro-v jection '28 is a latch 3Q provided with shoulders 31 and upon its lower edge. lVhen the blocks 18 are supporting the end pieces in raised position the parts just described are in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and also at the right in Fig. 5. lVhen .the support is drawn out the latches 30 slide y over the supports or legs 11 which are suitably recessed to receive the sliding frame. lVhen the shoulder 32 engages the upper edge of the support, 11 the movement of the cross bar 28 is arrested. Further movement of the sliding frame longitudinally results in moving the middle block 18 away from the cross bar 28 and as the end bloelrs 18 are hinged'to the middle block and also have a slotted connection with the bar Q8 this relative movement forces them into the po sition shown at the left in Fig. 5. `When the supports are moved inward the shoulder 31 prevents movement of the cross bar 28, thus forcing the end blockslS outward until they are again alined with the middle block. The. cam surfaces 22a and the cam grooves QG are so designed that the shoulder 31 will be lifted above the edge of the support 11 as the end blocks 18 come into alinement with the middle block. It will thus appear that the supporting blocks 18 are automatically moved from the position shown at the right in Fig. 5 to that shown at the left in said ligure, by merely pulling the sliding frame outwardly and that a reverse movement of said frame automatically restores them to their original position.

'l`he several uses to which the device is adapted are clearly indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and the positions of the several parts when inalse for any one of these purposes will be evident without further explana, tion. lVhen it is desired to put the table into its most compact condition, as for storage, the panels 16 may be secured below the central portion, as in Fig. 3 and the end pieces may be folded [iat against the upper surface of the central portion, the end supports being moved to the position shown in Figs. 1 or 2.

While a preferred form of my invention is shown in the drawings' it will be obvious that many changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but

What I claim is l. A convertible table having in combination a central portion, end pieces hinged thereto, means to support said end pieces either in the plane of the table or in raised position normalthereto, cover panels connected to the sides of said central portion,

means to retain said panels in retracted position below said central portion, and means to support said panels in position between the raised end pieces and with their free edges meeting in a longitudinal line above said central portion.

2. A convertible table having in combination a rigidly supported central portion, end and side-pieces hinged to said central portion, meansto support said end pieces 130 either in the plane of the table or in raised position normal thereto, curved cover panels connected to said side pieces, and means to lock said side pieces in positionv to support said panels between the raised end pieces and with their free edges meeting above the longitudinal center line of the table.

3. A convertible table havingin combination a rigidly supported central portion, end and side pieces hinged to said central portion, means to support said end pieces either in the plane of the table or in raised position normal thereto, means to support the side pieces in the plane of the table, and additional means to lock said side pieces in raised position substantially normal tao the plane of said table.

Il. A convertible table having in combination a rigidly supported central portion, end and side pieces hinged to said central portion, moans. to support said end pieces either in the plane ot' the table or in raised position normal thereto, a molded strip secured to the under surface of each side piece and effective to support the side piece in .the plane of the table, a locking member hinged to each molded strip, studs in the under side of the central portion coperating with said loo-king members to lock the molded strips in raised position, and cover panels also hinged to said molded strips and' supported thereby between the raised end pieces when the molded strips are `secured in raised position by said locking members.

5. A convertible table having, in combination, a central portion, an end piece se-Y cured to said central portion and a block slidably supported on said central portion 4and effective to support said end piece in the plane of the table or in raised position normal'thereto, said block having a combined vertical and horizontal movement whereby it is raised a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the end piece as it is moved from its extended to its retracted position.

6. A convertible table having in combination a central portion, supporting legs therefor, an end piece secured-to said central portion, and a single means eective to support said end piece' in the plane of the table or in raised' position normal thereto,

said single means comprising blocks adapted to rest upon the supporting legs to hold the end pieces in raised position, and means to support said blocks in extended position with their upper faces in the plane of the under side of the table, the end pieces being supported on said blocks and in the plane of the table. v

7. A convertible table having in combination a central portion, supporting legs therefor, end pieces secured to said central portion, and a single means eiective to sup port each end piece in the plane of the table or in raised position normalthereto, said end pieces each constituting a curved end for the central portion, ,and said single means comprising a plurality of blocks hinged together at their ends and extending in a straight line when in retracted position, means for supporting said blocks in extended position, and means for changing the angular relation of said blocks to each other effective to position them substantially in 'conformity to the curved outline of the end pieces when said blocks are moved to extended position. v

8. A table having in combination -a cen- `tral portion, supporting legs therefor, end

pieces hinged to said central ortion, and means to supportsaid end pieces in the plane of thev table, said end piecesv comprising three blocks hinged together at their ends and extending in a straight line when in' retracted position, means for sup orting said blocks in extended position, andp means for changing ,the angular relation .of said blocks to each other, said last named means comprising a cross bar having a pin and.- y

slot connection with each end block and devices to move said bar relative to the middle block but parallel thereto, said devices operating automatically to move the end blocks tol angular position relative to the middle block when the supporting means is extended and .to move the end blocks into line with the middle block when the supporting means yis retracted.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set I my hand, inthe presence o'two subscribing Witnesses. l

Witnesses:

ALBERT E. Far, C. FonREs'r Wasson.

nosiTH onooUErrE. 

